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Saturday, July 23, 2016

William Cullen Bryant to Abraham Lincoln, January 3, 1861

New York January 3d
1861.

My dear Sir,

I have this moment received your note Nothing could be more
fair or more satisfactory than the principle you lay down in regard to the
formation of your council of official advisers. I shall always be convinced
that whatever selection you make it will be made conscientiously.

The community here had been somewhat startled this morning
by the positiveness with which a report had been circulated, reaching this city
from Washington that Mr. Simon Cameron was to be placed in the Treasury
Department. Forgive me if I state to you how we all should regard such an
appointment – I believe I may speak for all parties, except perhaps some of the
most corrupt in our own – The objection to Mr. Cameron would not be that he
does not opinion hold such opinions as we approve, but that there is among all
who have observed the course of our public men an utter, ancient and deep
seated dullness of his integrity – whether financial or political. The
announcement of his appointment, if made on any authority deserving of credit
would diffuse a feeling almost like despair. I have no prejudices against Mr
Cameron except such as arise from observing in what transactions he has been
engaged as I have reason to suppose that whatever opinion had been formed
respecting him in this part of the country has been formed on perfectly
impartial and disinterested grounds. I pray you, again, to excuse this my
giving you this trouble. Do not reply to this letter – Only let us have honest
rigidly upright men in the departments – whatever may be their notions of
public policy. I am, dear Sir,